Lovely hit song

Classic and hit Japanese pop songs from the nostalgic 1960s

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

Japan in the 1960s was a tumultuous era: right in the midst of the so-called “period of rapid economic growth,” hailed as the Miracle of the East, with developments like the Tokyo Olympics and the Osaka World Expo.

In the music scene, beyond the frenzy surrounding The Beatles’ visit to Japan, there were many epoch-making events—such as Kyu Sakamoto’s classic “Ue o Muite Arukō” topping the U.S.

charts under the title “SUKIYAKI.”

In this article, we’ll introduce nostalgic Japanese pop songs that colored Japan in the ’60s.

Enjoy these beloved classics—from kayōkyoku and folk songs to Group Sounds (GS)—that remain popular even with today’s younger generation!

Classic and Hit Japanese Pop Songs from the Nostalgic ’60s (’61–’70)

Rainbow-colored lakeNakamura Akiko

Akiko Nakamura, Rainbow-Colored Lake (Rainbow Lake), 1968

Rainbow-colored lakeNakamura Akiko

“Rainbow-Colored Lake” is the seventh single by Akiko Nakamura, released by King Records in 1967.

It sold 800,000 copies and became her first hit.

She performed it on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

Akiko Nakamura was popular for her striking features and powerful singing voice.

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Jenny, JennySuzuki Yasushi

Yasushi Suzuki / Jenny, Jenny

Jenny, JennySuzuki Yasushi

“Jenny Jenny” is a single by Yasushi Suzuki released in 1962.

It is a cover of a song performed by American rock singer Little Richard.

It became a major hit in Japan during the height of the rockabilly boom.

This song made Yasushi Suzuki famous, and he went on to work as a host, actor, and entertainer.

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In conclusion

We’ve brought you a selection of classic hits from 1960s Japan, and for those who lived through that era, many of these songs may have been so nostalgic they could bring you to tears.

How many of them are familiar to the younger generations? You might have felt that you’ve “heard most of them somewhere before.” If you’re eager to listen more, use this article as a guide and dive deeper!